If the idea is to keep cool without jacking up your energy bills, you’ll probably depend on your ceiling fan a great deal this summer. A prevalent strategy is to use a fan without AC until it gets really hot, then turn the fan off and run the air conditioner instead. This is a mistake! Operating the ceiling fan and air conditioner simultaneously is the most beneficial way to improve comfort and energy savings.
It can seem excessive to try two cooling methods together, but fans make your air conditioner more efficient. Follow these five tips to help you get the maximum benefit from your air conditioning system this summer.
Install a Ceiling Fan
First—if you don’t already have ceiling fans in your home, consider installing a few. You should have the opportunity to swap out any light fixture in the heart of the room for a silent, effective and eye-catching ceiling fan.
Keep in mind that ceiling fans work best when the blades sit seven to nine feet above the floor, 10 to 12 inches from the ceiling, and at least 18 inches from the walls. This means your ceilings must be at the least eight-feet high, and rooms with vaulted ceilings may not benefit the way rooms with lower ceilings will.
As you might imagine, longer fans can move more air than smaller ones. Opt for a 36- to 44-inch diameter fan for rooms as much as 225 square feet and 52-inch fans for bigger rooms. You can also put in multiple fans in the same area to cool rooms longer than 18 feet.
Determine the Fan’s Direction
Ceiling fans can run in both directions. Confirm yours is ready to spin counterclockwise during summer. This pushes air down to make the breeze feel more apparent.
If you’re uncertain whether a fan is rotating the right way, switch it on and stand straight beneath it. If the breeze feels weak for how quickly the blades are turning, you potentially need to switch the direction.
Some fans have a remote control, usually if they’re mounted on a vaulted ceiling. Check for a button on the remote to change the direction. If your fan doesn’t possess a remote, feel around the motor housing for a reversing switch.
Ceiling fans can turn both ways because forcing the air upward is useful for reducing heating costs in the winter. So when the seasons change, adjust your fan to spin clockwise and use it on low to distribute warm air toward the ceiling back down to the living room without producing a breeze. This method is especially useful in stairwells and rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Reset the Thermostat
You should change the thermostat to enjoy energy savings from running a ceiling fan in the summer. Don’t be afraid of feeling uncomfortable—the “wind chill” effect made by turning on a ceiling fan makes the room appear up to 4 degrees cooler. This principle, which can make winter weather miserable, is the secret to home comfort and energy savings for the summer.
If you ordinarily keep your house at 75 degrees, think about adjusting the thermostat to 77 or 78 degrees to make up for the wind chill effect created by using a ceiling fan. Then, modify your outfit to enhance your comfort level even more. Dressing for the season permits you to optimize comfort while reducing cooling costs.
Turn Off the Fans in Unoccupied Areas
It’s a widespread assumption that ceiling fans drop the temperature in the room. Of course, they make you feel cooler, but all they do is move air around. As a result, there’s not a good reason to keep a ceiling fan moving in an unused room. Fans might cost pennies on the dollar to use versus air conditioners, but every little bit matters, so shut off the fan if you’re the last person to leave the room.
See Your Energy Savings Grow
If you follow the tips outlined above, you should observe a reduction in your air conditioning expenses throughout the summer. After all, you can save as much as 3 percent on your cooling costs for each degree you increase the thermostat. And by using the wind chill effect produced by the ceiling fan, you can receive savings without compromising comfort.
Keep Cool with Help from R & M Climate Control Service Experts
Plainly, you shouldn’t underestimate the impact ceiling fans can have on your home comfort this summer! If you need air conditioning services at any time, check out R & M Climate Control Service Experts to resolve your problem fast. Our technicians can help your air conditioner run as proficiently as possible, ensuring it works along with your ceiling fans to keep your home and family comfortable for less. Call us today to request an appointment with the HVAC pros at R & M Climate Control Service Experts.